The first gymnasium of the Academy, where the sports tournament is taking place, is a circular arena built in the likeness of Judeca.
Unlike the duels held in Judeca, the Academy is sufficiently equipped with safety measures.
These protective measures were initially developed by Eliya and Epona, later improved by Amor.
Even knights who fight in real combat favor the system’s performance.
So, there will never be serious injuries while wielding wooden swords at the Academy.
Nevertheless, the parents of the participants were not entirely at ease.
Just because there are no serious injuries doesn’t mean there are no injuries at all.
Moreover, watching their kids physically compete with others wasn’t exactly a pleasant sight.
Judas and Eliya felt the same, yet they respected Fides’s intentions.
Due to its risky nature, free sparring is meticulously regulated.
There are divisions for first, second, and third years.
And there is an integrated division where only the strongest from this age group can compete.
Fides was a strong contender who made it to the finals of the integrated division.
It’s astonishing enough for a first-year to even participate in an integrated match, and being a contender for the championship is a first!
After the matches of the first, second, and third years,
it was soon time for the finals of the integrated division.
The host, Jerry, knew Fides’s abilities.
He had coached him a few times.
Naturally, he emphasized that this final match was exceptional and highlighted its rarity.
“Normally, the finals for the integrated free sparring always feature third-year students… But this time, for the first time, a first-year has reached the finals. Truly a special occasion.”
With his introduction, the two participants emerged.
“From first-year class 3, Fides! And from third-year class 5, Boki!”
Two boys in leather armor, wielding wooden swords.
Fides looked up at his opponent, Boki.
“Wow, tall.”
In just the first semester of his first year, Fides had already dominated the entire first year.
Since then, the topic among first-years has always been hot.
“Can Fides beat second and third years?”
Fides was curious too.
He had already swept the second years in the lower-tier matches of this sports tournament.
Now only the third year remained.
Could he do it?
The result was about to unfold before his eyes.
Having faced off against all the third years, the massive Boki was his last barrier.
Boki.
Massively bigger and stronger than Fides, even among first-years.
He almost matched an adult in size.
“To the contestants!”
Fides stood facing Boki.
As the referee checked their gear, Boki spoke up.
“Concede.”
The two had engaged in a strange psychological battle every time they crossed paths on the way to the finals.
“You’ve achieved an amazing feat just getting this far. But it’s best to give up here. It won’t work against me. I don’t want to flatten you like a beast in front of so many people. This isn’t a taunt; I mean it.”
Fides found it absurd and smirked.
Despite claiming it wasn’t a taunt, it certainly sounded like one.
He decided to respond.
With one eye closed and his tongue out, he made a cheeky face and said, “Have some candy, senior. I’m going to win.”
Cheers erupted from the audience.
It was loud enough to be heard over the noise.
But Fides’s actions and expression spoke volumes about the situation.
Boki grinned as if he received a satisfactory reply.
“I knew you’d say something like that.”
Fides had no intention of backing down.
He hated the idea of conceding more than losing.
And it wasn’t just for that reason.
“If I don’t think I can win, why run away?”
He was overflowing with confidence that he could win.
“Contestants to the back. Are you ready?”
The two boys stood a distance apart.
The referee confirmed their readiness.
Both nodded simultaneously.
“Begin!”
The spar began.
*
The wooden swords dropped.
There’s no blade.
But they mustn’t break, so they’re sturdy.
Thus, they serve better as bludgeons.
Moreover, the opponent was taller than him.
An attack coming from above was heavier.
Fides slid his sword against his opponent’s.
His movements flowed seamlessly.
Like water, he struck at Boki’s abdomen.
What he had envisioned in his mind didn’t materialize.
His opponent had braced himself and resisted.
“Strong.”
The weight class difference had not been overcome.
He couldn’t win through brute strength.
Still, there remained a chance to win.
Fides thought of his dad.
Aside from the asymmetrical power of the great sorceress Eliya, his father, Judas, was the strongest human.
When he first asked for guidance and sparred with him, Fides had cried.
He thought his dad hated him.
He never anticipated he would hit so hard.
Now, Fides understood.
That was care.
Wielding a sword meant preparing for the possibility of injuring someone else and getting hurt in the process.
At that time, Judas had consoled him in surprise but firmly warned him again.
Holding a sword meant facing even greater pain than this.
And now, he had come this far.
Boki was big and powerful.
But Fides had dodged, taken hits, and parried far more powerful strikes countless times.
It wasn’t just Judas.
Gallahaid.
And the Royal Guard.
They all contributed to his growth.
Still, the biggest influence had been his father.
A wall in life and a guiding light.
He recalled his mentor’s words.
“Trying to overpower someone head-on is foolish. It’s inefficient. When that’s overwhelmingly possible, it may turn into a psychological warfare to suppress your opponent’s momentum, but if not, find another way.”
“How?”
“Break their balance.”
Power is a direction.
When you shatter the balance, that direction scatters.
Power without direction is meaningless.
As Fides pretended to be pushed back, Boki exerted more force.
To apply force, he had to get closer.
Consequently, his feet naturally came forward.
Fides seized that moment.
He slid his sword sideways like throwing it.
At that instant, Boki’s balance tipped forward.
Trying not to fall, he stepped out.
Fides tripped him as if he had been waiting for it.
He struck the back of Boki’s neck as he went down.
“Gah-!”
Boki lost his wooden sword as he fell.
Fides struck him once more on the back, but it didn’t have much impact.
Charging towards the upright Boki, he pointed his sword at his neck.
“Can’t let up!”
But he failed.
Boki caught the wooden sword and held firm.
It was possible because it was a blunted weapon.
If it had been a real sword, he would have died, but that assumption was irrelevant in this duel.
While struggling not to lose it, he ultimately let go of his sword.
In turn, Boki couldn’t grasp his sword either.
It flew away, tumbling in the distance.
Boki smiled and lunged forward.
Fides deciphered the source of Boki’s overconfident grin.
“If it were a bare-knuckle fight, the difference in strength is absolute!… He thinks that.”
However, alas, Fides had prepared for this situation.
As Boki threw a punch with great force,
Fides calmly executed a technique passed down by his father.
He needed to prove something.
That he wouldn’t lose to anyone.
He bore the duty of showing those who had faith in him.
“The sword is just a tool. I must not rely on it.”
Always consider the possibility of fighting barehanded.
Especially within a certain distance when the sword isn’t drawn, the hands can be faster than the sword.
“One hand for the sleeve, the other for the collar.”
He reached out and gripped tightly.
He utilized the oncoming force and weight entirely.
Pulling him in, he spun back and lowered his upper body, as if bowing.
Those who knew Judas well saw a reflection of young Judas in that very moment.
“Throwing move!”
Boki was pulled into Fides as if caught in a current, then slammed his entire body onto the ground.
Thud-!
A dull, heavy sound echoed.
It rang through the arena.
“Ugh…!”
The pain spread from his back and hammered the organs.
Boki halted, gasping for air.
“Heh, heh….”
Fides looked down at the wheezing Boki.
After catching his breath, he belatedly grasped the situation.
“I did it…! And…!”
He won.
At the moment of realization.
“Waaahhh-!”
The cheers pierced his ears.
Thousands of spectators were roaring with applause.
It was fervent enough to make his skin tingle.
In the center of it all, Fides stood catching his breath in silence.
A pleasant shiver ran through his entire body, rendering him speechless.
The referee shouted.
“Match over! The final champion of the integrated division is Fides!”
The cheer grew louder.
Fides spotted his family in the distance.
Sister Amor, shouting wildly.
Donum, seeming exhilarated, eyes shining as he jumped.
Spei, with wide eyes of admiration and surprise.
Mom Eliya, smiling proudly.
Maria and Gallahaid, who had worried but now exhaled in relief while beaming.
And then, his father, Judas.
Contrary to expectations, he looked at Fides with calm eyes.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy.
Simply put,
this emotion transcended mere joy.
Judas just smiled and nodded.
Even though it wasn’t his achievement, he felt thrilled and goosebumps as if it were his own victory.
It felt so refreshing inside.
Fides mirrored that smile.
Though unspoken, their hearts connected.
“Dad. I did it.”
“Yeah. I saw it all. From start to finish. You did well. I’m proud of you.”
After deeply connecting with his family, Fides shifted his gaze.
Towards the area where the Royal Guard had gathered.
He looked at Richard and Beninita’s seating.
More specifically, at Erin, who was there.
Fides grinned and raised his right hand.
On his wrist, a yellow handkerchief was tied.
There’s a culture in the Judeca arena.
When you receive a handkerchief and win the match, it signifies a bond between a man and a woman.
Participants in this sporting event also imitated that.
Richard glanced at Fides and cautiously asked Erin.
“…Could that be the handkerchief you gave him, Erin?”
“……”
Erin replied in silence.
Richard held the back of his neck.
Unsure of whether to be pleased or not.
As he watched Erin’s face blush and subtly smile, while Fides proudly showcased his victory, Judas chuckled softly.
He would keep an eye on Richard, but for now, it didn’t matter.
“Our son. He’s a man now.”
He simply felt an immense pride and joy in his children.
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